If you're carving out a new bathroom in a small house, or renovating an older bathroom, you tend to get familiar with building codes pretty quick. In Boston at least, codes say that bathrooms (even half baths) need to have an exhaust fan installed even when the bathroom has a window. If you're not involved in picking out the fan (and who would be?), the plumber is likely to put in a big square thing with a grill. In a small bathroom, this can be a bit ugly, not to mention make a ton of noise. We did a bit of research for an old bathroom we had to bring up to code and found a great vent fan that's also a recessed light... More

The new 22 electrical outlet by Bocci, pictured up top, got us thinking about flush trim and how desireable (and laborious) it is in modern architecture. We know we would love flush trims in our own home; from the base of the wall to the frames on the doors. But we also know that the trim in older spaces was often beautifully embellished and for this we treasure it even today. So, we wanted to round up a comparison between the best of the trimmed and trimless worlds of modern and traditional architecture. Today, we start with electrical trim, from switches to power outlets... More

We've spotted tons of people doing this on Flickr. They're setting up their desktop images to match what's behind them, making the computer screen look transparent. Are we missing something? Has this been done for, like, ever? The "special effect" is suprising, and the idea does its little part in reducing the interruption of space. We think we like it. See more examples of what appears to be an epidemic after the jump... More

Name: Bob
Location: Tribeca
Size: 1200 sqft loft
Years lived in: 22 years

Bob is, as he says, "good at small problem solving." He enjoys "looking at what's there and deciding what's necessary to get it in good shape." So it seems to follow that when, in 1985, he and Maxine learned of a century old,

wholesale warehouse on the 2nd floor of a Chambers Street industrial building, Bob was thrilled and ready to take it on...

Find out how much energy you're using wasting when household appliances are left plugged in 24/7/365. Good Magazine's Vampire Energy Chart breaks it down in terms of kilowatt hours of energy use and the cost to consumer. Added all up: Vampire Energy costs US consumers an estimated $3 billion per year. More

Shallow Hide-away. For those that want a relatively inexpensive way to both mount and hide a flatscreen TV, the BJORNHOLMEN cabinet from IKEA does both while measuring just under 16" in depth and maintaining a low price... More

Embracing Energy-Efficiency. In the Plumen design prototypes from London-based Hulger, the necessary coils of a energy-efficient bulb are used as a sculptural element to create unique lighting. In addition to the numerous forms created by Hulger's designers, the longer-life of an energy-efficient flourescent bulb demands more attractive solutions for modern consumers. Via: Dezeen...

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A new market has opened up for charging stations as people find they have more personal electronics than they care to look at. The latest we've spotted is Contactbox. It was created by Swede Anna Falkenmark... More

Wired & Inspired. Check out the D.I.Y. Picket Fence designed by Karl Zahn. Attached to baseboards, the pickets create a space to stow cords and the gaps allow plugs to pop through when needed. Via: swissmiss... More

A smart table for smart teens, and adults too. PB Teen's Smart Bedside Table has a power strip integrated into its drawer... More